"Sometimes it feels like this race has dragged on forever. But Paul Ryan assured me that we've only been running for two hours and 50-something minutes," the president said, in a reference to Ryan misstating his marathon time.

"I've heard some people say, "Barack, you're not as young as you used to be. Where's that golden smile? Where's that pep in your step?" And I say, 'Settle down, Joe, I'm trying to run a Cabinet meeting,'" the president joked.

"Earlier today, I went shopping at some stores in Midtown. I understand Governor Romney went shopping for some stores in Midtown," Obama said.

"As some of you may have noticed, I had a lot more energy at our second debate. I felt really well rested after the nice, long nap I had in the first debate," Obama said. "Although it turns out millions of Americans focused in on the second debate who didn't focus in on the first debate -- and I happened to be one of them."

And a couple from Romney:

"My job is to lay out a positive vision for the future of the country. And their job is to make sure nobody else finds about it."

He also quipped that early headlines from the dinner read: "Obama embraced by Catholics; Romney dines with rich people."

"I was actually hoping the president would bring Joe Biden along this evening -- 'cause he will laugh at anything,"

While this is a very different audience from my group of friends on Facebook, I feel compelled to share my most recent post because I think many of us are in the same boat as me:

I've now had a handful of friends post things that directly say that you cannot be a "real Christian" and vote Democrat. I have intentionally avoided posting partisan political stuff during this election cycle because of the divisiveness I've seen already, with people cutting off friends over political disagreements. But I simply cannot stand for the fallacy that Republicans have the market cornered on Christianity. Churches used to be filled with good Christians of every political perspective, but now politicians, other churchgoers and even pulpit ministers have turned voting records into some kind of heretical litmus test for faith. There are Republican Christians. There are Democrat Christians. There are Libertarian Christians. There are Socialist Christians. The same holds true for people of other religions or no religion at all. Be nice to one another. I have friends of every political persuasion and many relgious perspectives. They are all good, moral, ethical people. Faith is a personal matter between a person & God, not a manipulative, opportunistic political tool used to divide.

As a rule, I stay away from political discussions around my friends because I do not want to jeopardize a friendship over some petty disagreement--that is what collegiate athletics is for!

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

While this is a very different audience from my group of friends on Facebook, I feel compelled to share my most recent post because I think many of us are in the same boat as me:

I've now had a handful of friends post things that directly say that you cannot be a "real Christian" and vote Democrat. I have intentionally avoided posting partisan political stuff during this election cycle because of the divisiveness I've seen already, with people cutting off friends over political disagreements. But I simply cannot stand for the fallacy that Republicans have the market cornered on Christianity. Churches used to be filled with good Christians of every political perspective, but now politicians, other churchgoers and even pulpit ministers have turned voting records into some kind of heretical litmus test for faith. There are Republican Christians. There are Democrat Christians. There are Libertarian Christians. There are Socialist Christians. The same holds true for people of other religions or no religion at all. Be nice to one another. I have friends of every political persuasion and many relgious perspectives. They are all good, moral, ethical people. Faith is a personal matter between a person & God, not a manipulative, opportunistic political tool used to divide.

As a rule, I stay away from political discussions around my friends because I do not want to jeopardize a friendship over some petty disagreement--that is what collegiate athletics is for!

I've been told that you can't be a real American and vote democratic. I've pretty much stopped talking to people about politics. There are too many people out there who are completely ignorant and hateful and just won't shut up with their ignorant hateful nonsense.

And he was clearly referencing Jon Stewart's words there. Anyway, what he said is hardly offensive, especially in that context.

Ah. Stewart is doing a bit on the clownish manufactured outrage ginned up by Faux on 'not optimal'. Didn't know where that came from, but shoulda guessed. Stewart then did a bit on Bull%$## Mountain on the mountain of manufactured fear and outrage Faux does so well.

ps. Did you know we have less horses and bayonets then we had in the early 1900's?

I didn't even bother watching the third debate. From most accounts (well, internet accounts at any rate) it was widely considered a 'dull' affair with few memorable zingers. The candidates more or less respected the moderator and the rules this time around. Romney supposedly passed the test of 'looking like Presidential material' (and by this I assume they meant exuding gravitas). I suppose Obama didn't have to worry as much about, that seeing as how he already is 'Presidential material'

People will miss that it once meant something to be Southern or Midwestern. It doesn't mean much now, except for the climate. The question, “Where are you from?” doesn't lead to anything odd or interesting. They live somewhere near a Gap store, and what else do you need to know? - Garrison Keillor

Romney supposedly passed the test of 'looking like Presidential material' (and by this I assume they meant exuding gravitas).

Romney refused to take any real foreign policy stands (unlike previously in his campaign). He basically parroted what Obama was saying while simultaneously saying he'd do it better. It was pathetic to hear him in regards to Iran saying he'd essentially do exactly what Obama was doing but then repeatedly point out that they're now 4 four years closer to getting a nuclear bomb which wouldn't have been the case if he was president.

It was clear from the debate that foreign policy is definitely not Romney's strong suit.

This last debate was probably the worst one from a topics-covered & moderation point of view. I don't understand how you can call this a foreign policy debate when it completely lacked discussion of Latin America and the EU debt crisis, and barely touched on the linked relationship between the US and China (probably the single most important issue from both a foreign & economic policy perspective in the next decade).

Instead we're talking about gawddamn horses & bayonets, and the usual saber-rattling about the Middle East?!? Is Israel our best friend or our secret lover?!?

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

The problem with foreign policy debates is that Americans are largely ignorant of what is happening beyond our shores. It's no surprise that the moderator would only concern himself with stuff covered in the news (which largely excludes Africa, Latin America, and SE Asia). Romney kept trying to bring up Mali but few Americans know or care where Timbuktu is.

Instead we're talking about gawddamn horses & bayonets, and the usual saber-rattling about the Middle East?!? Is Israel our best friend or our secret lover?!?

This tells you how poor his foreign policy team is - incompetents pandering to the chickenhawks and evangelicals on Israel, totally ignoring Mexican drug cartels and Eurozone (double-dip) recession. Ignoring the Euro because POTUS could bring up the fact that Rmoney's apparent policies would result in what is happening Over There.

And POTUS closed very poorly and didn't do much to pander to the low-information 2% who haven't decided yet but will choose our course. I understand he's busy, but he could have crafted a better campaign - its as if the team looked at Team GOP and laughed at their Keystone Kops routine and mailed it in.

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Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.

Middle East land masses

I suspect low-information Rmoney voters neither know nor care that Iran has seaports. But yes, the talking points are especially dumb. Whoever is crafting these phrases would be out of a job in a sane world.

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Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.